© 2024 Hawaiʻi Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

2,700 Marriott Hotel Workers Strike for Job Security and Higher Wages

Wayne Yoshioka

2,700 Marriott Hotel workers went on strike this morning in Waikiki and Maui.  Unite Here Local 5 union representatives asked for a three dollar raise and hotel negotiators countered with 30 cents.

Jowena Ellazar from Mililani was on the picket line wearing a red T-shirt with “One Job Should Be Enough” printed on the back.  

                                     

Credit Wayne Yoshioka
Jowena Ellazar from Mililani says, "One Job Should Be Enough"

“My boyfriend and I can’t even afford to just get our own place because it’s way too expensive.  We have to rent a room.  What kind of life is that? So, I have a 4 year-old right now and a one year-old.  She just turned one.  And, I barely see them because just the commute from Mililani to Waikiki and back, we’re in traffic for an hour and-a-half, we work 8 hours a day.  So, it’s impossible to even spend time with families.  Some of my co-workers do two jobs and I can’t imagine how hard it is for them when they can’t even see their kids.”

 

The strike involves Local 5 union workers at the Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, Princess Ka’iulani and Sheraton Maui.

 

 

 

Wayne Yoshioka
Wayne Yoshioka is an award-winning journalist who has worked in television, print and radio in Hawaiʻi. He also has been on both sides of politics as a state departmental appointee and political/government reporter. He covered Hurricane Iwa (1982) as a TV reporter; was the State Department of Defense/Civil Defense spokesperson for Hurricane Iniki (1992); and, commanded a public affairs detachment in Afghanistan (2006). He has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a decorated combat veteran (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and 22 other commendation/service medals). He resides in Honolulu.
Related Stories